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Thunder has marathon opening practice

When the Thunder franchise began in 2008, extra time was needed for coach Scott Brooks and his staff to instruct players on everything from simple drills to the complexities of the shell defense.

Oklahoma City Thunder players on the first day of training camp. Oct. 2. 2012. Photo provided.

With the core of the team and staff having been together for several seasons now, less time is wasted on repetitive instruction. As a result, the Thunder tentatively has not scheduled any two-a-day workouts during the preseason.

On Tuesday, the Thunder's first practice of the season lasted two hours, 45 minutes — roughly twice as long as a routine practice during the season.

“It was a little long, but it was great,” Brooks said. “Partly because we know what we do, and if we can get it all done in 2½ hours or two hours, 15 minutes, I think that's good enough.”

Brooks said teams are allowed six two-a-day practices in the first 13 days of camp. “We always have the option to come back and revisit that,” Brooks said of doubling daily workouts.

“It's an advantage for us to be able to come in and not have to go over every single thing in every drill,” said veteran forward Nick Collison, who is starting his 10th season with the franchise. “Early in my career, we had a lot of changeover. Seemed like we had a new coach every year, new players. So each time you have to start so much slower. Now, we jump right in.”

Another reason for less practice time is conditioning has become a year-round commitment from players.

“Today, conditioning wasn't a factor,” Brooks said. “Execution for the first day I thought was really good. A lot to do with it is we've been together for a while now. They came back in great shape. That always has been the case here.”

“We're going to go at a pace that at times is going to be a little uncomfortable for them,” Brooks said of the new arrivals. “They're going to have to pick it up quick because we move on to the next thing. The new guys did a good job. They're a very competitive group.”